A5076452198- Biocrusts and Microbial Ecology
- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Polar Research and Ecology
- bioluminescence and chemiluminescence research
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Lichen and fungal ecology
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
Università degli Studi della Tuscia
2021-2024
Federal Institute For Materials Research and Testing
2024
Abstract Cryomyces antarcticus , a melanized cryptoendolithic fungus endemic to Antarctica, can tolerate environmental conditions as severe those in space. Particularly, its ability withstand ionizing radiation has been attributed the presence of thick and highly cell walls, which—according previous investigation—may contain both 1,8‐dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN) L‐3,4 dihydroxyphenylalanine (L‐DOPA) melanin. The genes putatively involved synthesis DHN melanin were identified genome C....
Abstract Black fungi on rock surfaces endure a spectrum of abiotic stresses, including UV radiation. Their ability to tolerate extreme conditions is attributed the convergent evolution adaptive traits, primarily highly melanized cell walls. However, studies fungal melanins have not provided univocal results their photoprotective functions. Here, we investigated whether black Knufia petricola and Cryomyces antarcticus only use DHN melanin or may employ alternative mechanisms counteract...
The success of an astrobiological search for life campaign on Mars, or other planetary bodies in the Solar System, relies detectability past present microbial traces, namely, biosignatures. Spectroscopic methods require little no sample preparation, can be repeated almost endlessly, and performed contact even remotely. Such are therefore ideally suited to use detection biosignatures, which confirmed with supporting instrumentation. Here, we discuss Raman Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR)...